DES MOINES, Iowa -- The State of Iowa is partnering with the Iowa Beef Industry Council to make Iowa-grown beef available to those who don't have enough to eat.
"We know we've got some excess cattle out there. We're going to acquire some cattle and have them processed at the Iowa State University Meat Lab. Ultimately we'll have it donated to food banks and food pantries" says Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig.
He says cattle used in the "Beef Up Iowa" program will initially come from Iowa 4-H and Future Farmers of America members.
"Given the demand that's happening at some of these meat lockers and meat processors, we suspect that there might be a few folks out there--4-H and FFA projects--that don't have a place to go. What a great way to connect all those dots" Naig says
Iowa's doing something similar with pig farmers. "Pass the Pork"--a partnership with the state and the Iowa Pork Producers Association--was launched back in April.